Biomedical subjects

W A Nahhas

Publications and source records attributed to W A Nahhas.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

The prognostic implications of low serum CA 125 levels prior to the second-look operation for stage III and IV epithelial ovarian cancer.

Second-look laparotomy is performed to evaluate response to chemotherapy and to determine the need for additional treatment. The relationship between absolute levels of serum CA 125 less than 35 u/ml and disease status at second-look operation was evaluated in 95 patients with advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancer. Eighty-six patients had Stage III disease and nine patients had Stage IV cancer. Residual tumor was documented at second-look laparotomy in 52 (55%) of the patients studied. Forty-nine percent of the 82 patients with serum CA 125 values less than 20 u/ml had residual disease. In contrast, 12 of 13 (92%) patients with serum CA 125 values of 20-35 u/ml had residual tumor at second-look laparotomy. All patients with serous cystadenocarcinomas and serum CA 125 values of 20-35 u/ml had residual tumor, and two-thirds of these cases had grossly visible disease. The positive predictive value of a serum CA 125 level of 20-35 u/ml was 0.92. These data suggest that second-look laparotomy should be deferred in patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer until serum CA 125 values are less than 20 u/ml.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Randomized comparison of cisplatin plus epirubicin or doxorubicin for advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma. A multicenter trial.

Stage III and IV epithelial ovarian cancer patients were prospectively randomized to receive eight courses of 60 mg/m2 of cisplatin plus either 75 mg/m2 of epirubicin (62 patients) or 60 mg/m2 of doxorubicin (54 patients). Clinical response rates for cisplatin/epirubicin of 42% [15% complete response (CR) and 27% partial response (PR)] and for cisplatin/doxorubicin of 55% (24% CR and 31% PR) were not statistically different (p = 0.14). The negative second look rate was 35% (10/29) for cisplatin/doxorubicin and 17% (5/30) for cisplatin/epirubicin (p = 0.12). The progression-free interval for cisplatin/epirubicin (13 months) was not statistically different (p = 0.09) from that for cisplatin/doxorubicin (19 months). The median survivals for cisplatin/epirubicin (756 days) and cisplatin/doxorubicin (739 days) were similar (p = 0.70). Cardiotoxicity was greater for the cisplatin/doxorubicin group (p = 0.0003). With similar survival and less cardiotoxicity, the cisplatin/epirubicin regimen had the more favorable therapeutic index.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Improved therapeutic index of carboplatin plus cyclophosphamide versus cisplatin plus cyclophosphamide: final report by the Southwest Oncology Group of a phase III randomized trial in stages III and IV ovarian cancer.

PURPOSE: To compare cisplatin-cyclophosphamide versus carboplatin-cyclophosphamide as primary chemotherapy for stage III (suboptimal) and stage IV ovarian cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three hundred forty-two patients were randomly assigned to treatment with six courses of intravenous (i.v.) cisplatin 100 mg/m2 plus i.v. cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2, or i.v. carboplatin 300 mg/m2 plus i.v. cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2. RESULTS: The estimated median survivals were 17.4 and 20.0 months for the cisplatin and carboplatin study arms, respectively. The null hypothesis of a 30% survival superiority with the cisplatin arm was rejected at the P = .02 level. Clinical response rates were 52% for the cisplatin arm and 61% for the carboplatin arm. Pathologic complete response rates were similar for both study arms. There was less thrombocytopenia on the cisplatin arm (P less than .001); however, there was less nausea and emesis (P less than or equal to .001 for courses 1 to 5), renal toxicity (P less than .001), anemia (P = .01), hearing loss (P less than .001), tinnitus (P = .01), neuromuscular toxicities (P = .001), and alopecia (P less than .001) on the carboplatin arm. CONCLUSION: Carboplatin-cyclophosphamide proved to have a significantly better therapeutic index than cisplatin-cyclophosphamide in patients with stage III (suboptimal) and stage IV ovarian cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Esorubicin in advanced endometrial cancer: an ineffective and potentially toxic therapy. A Southwest Oncology Group study.

The Southwest Oncology Group conducted a phase II study of esorubicin treatment in patients with advanced endometrial cancer who had received no prior chemotherapy. Twenty of 31 patients were fully evaluable for response and toxicity. There were no clinical responses to treatment and 60% (12/20) of the patients developed severe or life threatening leukopenia on therapy. One evaluable patient was removed from study after a cumulative dose of 150 mg/M2 due to a reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction on MUGA scan and another developed congestive heart failure several months after discontinuation of treatment. Esorubicin has significant toxicity and limited clinical activity in patients with advanced endometrial cancer.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

PubMed1991

A potential hazard of the use of the surgical ultrasonic aspirator in tumor reductive surgery.

The surgical ultrasonic aspirator (USA) is a recently developed surgical instrument being used for an increasingly wide range of surgical procedures including tumor reductive surgery in patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma. This paper introduces a potential hazard of the use of this instrument. It was determined that the mist produced by the ultrasonic aspirator during tumor reductive surgery contains intact and possibly viable cancer cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1991

Endosalpingiosis as a source of psammoma bodies in a Papanicolaou smear. A case report.

Psammoma bodies are concentric, laminated structures produced by cross-sectioning the tips of calcified papillary formations and are usually associated with papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland, meningiomas and serous papillary tumors of the ovary. These structures have occasionally been seen in cytologic smears obtained from women with endometrial or ovarian carcinoma. A woman had Papanicolaou smears that continued to show psammoma bodies for over two years, eventually leading to a hysterectomy. Even though the presence of psammoma bodies on a Papanicolaou smear should always alert the physician to the possibility of ovarian carcinoma, leading to a thorough search for this malignancy, a variety of benign conditions, such as endosalpingiosis, may also be associated with this finding.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Debridement of vaginal radiation ulcers using the surgical Ultrasonic Aspirator.

The surgical Ultrasonic Aspirator (USA) is a fairly new surgical instrument used for an increasingly wide range of procedures. This paper introduces a new application: debridement of vulvovaginal necrotic ulcers resulting from intracavitary radiation therapy. The ultrasonic aspirator allowed removal of the soft, necrotic tissue while preserving underlying healthy, firm tissue and blood vessels.

Brachytherapy↗

PubMed1990

Gynecologic surgery in the aged.

Aged women, those over 75 years, experience a high incidence of nearly all gynecologic neoplasms as well as associated chronic medical illnesses. In this study, 773 women underwent major surgery, while 711 underwent minor procedures. Fifty-two patients (3.5%) were 75 years of age or older. Forty-three of the 52 (83%) had a total of 119 associated medical complications. Eighty-nine surgical procedures were performed. A total of 17 postoperative complications occurred in 15 patients. Thirty-eight patients (73%) had no postoperative complications. One patient died because of infarction of the bowel diagnosed within 30 days of her primary surgical procedure. The aged patients in this study did well postoperatively with routine preoperative medical evaluation and postoperative care. Same-day admission and surgery did not increase morbidity. Aged patients can safely undergo major pelvic and abdominal surgery at a community medical center if one manages their associated medical conditions in a routine manner similar to that utilized in younger patients with similar problems. The associated medical complications and not age per se should be the deciding factor.

Aged↗

PubMed1989

"Nongynecologic" surgical procedures performed on a gynecologic oncology service.

One thousand fifty-eight patients had major surgery in a community-based, university-affiliated gynecologic oncology service. Of these, 233 underwent a total of 275 "nongynecologic" surgical procedures. Two hundred twenty patients suffered from gynecologic malignancies, whereas 13 had surgery for benign disorders. Eighty-two procedures were performed on the gastrointestinal tract, 44 on the urinary tract, and 149 on extrapelvic lymph nodes. Except for ovarian carcinoma and benign conditions the majority of gastrointestinal or urinary tract operations were preceded by radiation therapy. When the nongynecologic operation was necessitated at a time subsequent to initial therapy of the malignancy, a high incidence of recurrent disease was discovered. Of the 275 procedures, reoperation because of early or late complications was necessary in only 8 instances. Only one postoperative death was caused by complications of surgery. Other mild postoperative complications were transient and responded to routine noninvasive care. The complication rate and morbidity of nongynecologic surgical procedures performed on a gynecologic oncology service are low and should encourage gynecologic oncologists to continue their present comprehensive approach to patient care.

Combined Modality Therapy↗

PubMed1989

Endometrial adenocarcinoma: therapeutic impact of preoperative histopathologic examination of endometrial tissue.

Adenocarcinoma of the endometrium is diagnosed by the histologic evaluation of endometrial tissue. In stage I disease, five-year survival depends upon a number of prognostic factors. Histologic grade and type of carcinoma are most important. The need for pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy is often based on the preoperative histologic grade and type of tumor. The purpose of this study was: 1) to compare preoperative histology of endometrial carcinoma to that found at hysterectomy, 2) to determine if preoperative histology can accurately predict depth of myometrial invasion or extra-uterine spread, 3) to determine whether para-aortic lymphadenectomy could be deleted based only on the preoperative finding of well differentiated carcinoma. In 19 (28%) of the 68 patients studied, the histologic grade or pattern at hysterectomy was different from that found preoperatively. In seven (13%) of the 52 "good prognosis" patients with grades 1 and 2 preoperative histology, hysterectomy revealed a more serious histologic type. Three of the seven (43%) had extrauterine spread. In the 16 "poor prognosis" patients with preoperative grade 3 or papillary serous/clear cell carcinoma, 14 (88%) had a similar histologic pattern at hysterectomy. Three of these patients had metastatic disease. Depth of myometrial invasion could not be predicted by preoperative histology even though the data suggested that extrauterine spread could. Clinical stage I endometrial carcinoma, grade 1 or 2, should not be treated without para-aortic nodal sampling based only on a supposedly favorable preoperative histologic pattern. Confirmed para-aortic nodal disease will alter the fields of post-operative radiation therapy should that become necessary. In these patients, however, pelvic lymphadenectomy is not justified.2 +

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1987

Palliative pelvic exenteration--futility revisited.

In a retrospective review of 23 pelvic exenterations performed at Miami Valley Hospital, 8 were considered to be palliative procedures because of pelvic or paraaortic lymph node metastases, pelvic peritoneal involvement, pelvic sidewall extension, or distant spread. Following palliative exenteration, morbidity and mortality were high, survival was low, and quality of life was uniformly poor. With rare exceptions, pelvic exenteration as a palliative procedure should not be deliberately performed.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

PubMed1986

Evaluation of urinary cytology of male sexual partners of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and human papilloma virus infection.

Condylomas of the genital tract can be found in 70% of patients who have cytologic evidence of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection or mild epithelial dysplasia (CIN I). Most male sexual partners of women with overt or subclinical HPV infections have no visible condylomas. Presently, there is no therapy for subclinically infected male partners. A screening test capable of detecting such HPV infections in males would be of value should effective therapy be discovered. Fifty-four men who were the current sexual partners of women with visible condylomata acuminata or with cytologic evidence of subclinical HPV infection or cervical neoplasia were asked to give a urine specimen for cytologic examination. The cytologist had no knowledge of the cytologic or histopathologic findings in the female partners. Of the 54 women, 39 (72%) had either visible genital condylomas or cytologic evidence of mild dysplasia or of HPV infection with or without mild dysplasia (CIN I). Twenty-five (63%) had histologic evidence of HPV infection with or without mild dysplasia. With one exception, urinary cytologic preparations from the study and from the control males were negative. No correlation could be found between cervical cytology and histology in the females and urinary cytologic findings in their current male partners. At the present time there is no screening test that can be utilized to detect male carriers with subclinical disease.

Carrier State↗

PubMed1984

Residual carcinoma in the surgical specimen of patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma undergoing preoperative radiation therapy. A study of 80 patients and a literature review.

Controversy continues to surround the significance of residual endometrial adenocarcinoma in the uterus following radiation therapy. Eighty patients with FIGO stage IA, IB, and II endometrial adenocarcinoma treated by preoperative radiotherapy were studied. No correlation was noted between the histologic grade of the lesion and the stage of disease. The frequency and the site of residual carcinoma were not related to the stage of disease but less-differentiated tumors persisted more frequently than grade I lesions. The modality of preoperative radiotherapy did not affect the frequency of residual tumor. Residual carcinoma within the uterus had no effect on the site or frequency of recurrence nor on patient survival.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1984

The preservation of ovarian function in young women undergoing pelvic radiation therapy.

Because cervical carcinoma rarely metastasizes to the ovaries, it became logical to preserve ovarian function by the method of lateral ovarian transposition as part of the management of young women with this disease. This technique prevents castration should subsequent radiation therapy be planned or become necessary. Forty patients with carcinoma of the cervix or vagina underwent unilateral or bilateral ovarian transposition. Eighteen patients received radiation therapy. Of these, 16 had gonadotropin measurements and only 6 (37%) had levels elevated to the postmenopausal range. If patients whose ovaries were not shielded or who received paraaortic radiotherapy are excluded, then only two (17%) had elevated gonadotropin values. It is concluded that, if properly performed, lateral ovarian transposition and ovarian shielding will protect ovarian function in patients receiving pelvic radiotherapy.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1984

Spontaneous occurrence of synergistic bacterial gangrene following external pelvic irradiation.

A case of spontaneous synergistic bacterial gangrene occurring after external pelvic irradiation is presented in a 25-year-old woman with invasive cervical cancer. Treatment consisted of aggressive antibiotic therapy and extensive excision and debridement followed by split-thickness skin grafting. Both recovery and cosmetic results were satisfactory. The pathophysiology, predisposing factors, and treatment modalities are presented.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1983

Treatment outcome of recurrent cervical cancer.

A total of 85 patients with recurrent cervical cancer were reviewed: 17 patients with recurrences were treated by radical surgery, 18 by radiotherapy, 29 by chemotherapy, and 21 cases received no further treatment. Survival was presented according to the site of recurrence and the mode of therapy. All patients were followed for a minimum of 24 months after recurrence. Of the total group, 14% are living without evidence of disease, 29% died of metastatic disease with no involvement in the pelvis, and 45% died of pelvic cancer. Overall, 22% were living more than 2 years, and only 2% lived over 5 years after recurrence. The NED (no evidence of disease) rate for radical surgery group was 47 and 44% for the radiotherapy group. There were no significant differences in median survival between the chemotherapy group and the no-treatment group (6.8 versus 4.8 months). New chemotherapy agents and adjuvant systemic therapy are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1983

The significance of histologic findings in predicting nodal metastases in invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva.

The significance of tumor differentiation, depth of stromal penetration, and vascular channel involvement in predicting nodal metastases was studied in 62 patients with invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva treated with radical vulvectomy and bilateral inguinal and femoral lymphadenectomy. The pattern of arrangement of vulvar neoplastic cells at the interface with stroma was used as a criterion for histologic grading. Patients with less differentiated tumors had a higher incidence of nodal metastasis within each stage of disease. No nodal metastases were noted in patients with Grade III tumors who had Stage I disease. No well-differentiated tumor with less than 5 mm of stromal penetration was associated with nodal metastases. In this study, the degree of tumor differentiation and the depth of stromal penetration were important predictors of nodal metastases. It was concluded that a subgroup of patients with Stage I well-differentiated vulvar carcinoma invading less than 5 mm into the underlying stroma may benefit by less radical surgery without compromising cure.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

PubMed1983

The prognostic significance of vascular channel involvement and deep stromal penetration in early cervical carcinoma.

Eighty-eight patients with FIGO Stage Ib and IIa squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix underwent radical hysterectomy with pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy. The records and histopathologic material were reviewed to determine the prognostic significance of vascular channel involvement and deep stromal penetration by tumor. Seventy-four patients (84%) were alive and free of disease for more than 2 years and 14 (16%) developed recurrent carcinoma within that time. A positive correlation was found between depth of stromal penetration by tumor and the degree of vascular channel involvement (p less than 0.05). Vascular involvement in itself did not significantly affect nodal status, survival or the rate of recurrence. Depth of penetration was associated with a higher incidence of positive nodes (p less than 0.05). There was a trend towards a lower survival rate and a higher recurrence rate in patients with deep stromal penetration as compared to those with superficial tumors. Microscopic nodal disease increased the rate of recurrence and had an adverse effect on survival. The combination of deep tumor penetration and positive nodes in the same patient was associated with the highest recurrence rate and the lowest survival (p less than 0.05). Nodal status was a more significant prognostic indicator than depth of tumor penetration because patients with deeply penetrating tumors and positive nodes had more than twice the recurrence rate than did patients with deep tumors and negative nodes. Postoperative radiation therapy was beneficial to patients whose tumors demonstrated deep stromal penetration and microscopic metastases to pelvic lymph nodes.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗